The European Union is planning to exert pressure on Beijing regarding China’s direct supply of military drones for the Ukrainian war to Russia, according to a senior EU official on Friday. The official, who requested to remain anonymous, revealed that intelligence reports indicate a Chinese factory is producing drones and shipping them to Russia.
The EU must ascertain whether Beijing is aware of the activities of the Chinese company and if the drone production equates to “direct cooperation on military equipment between China and Russia,” as stated by the official. The official emphasized that if it is confirmed that drones are being transported from China to Russia, there will be consequences, although the specific repercussions were not disclosed.
The comments from EU officials suggest a firmer stance towards China following the re-election of President Trump in the United States. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský has urged other EU countries to support Trump’s policies towards China.
Additionally, three unnamed EU diplomats indicated that the issue of China producing drones for Russia will be a primary topic of discussion when foreign ministers from European countries gather in Brussels next week. One of the diplomats stressed the need to monitor whether Beijing is altering its publicly claimed neutral position in the conflict in Ukraine.
Although EU officials and diplomats did not specify potential sanctions, one option under consideration is to add more Chinese companies to the list of third-country entities facing EU sanctions. The EU has previously imposed sanctions on Iran for producing weapons for Russia but has not sanctioned Chinese entities before. The senior EU official stated that the EU will follow a similar process with China as it did with Iran.
When questioned about the prerequisites before further actions are taken by the EU, the official mentioned that efforts are underway to determine if the factory’s production is aimed at Russia, if the drones are being shipped to Russia, and if Chinese authorities are aware of the company’s activities. The official added it is difficult to believe these activities are taking place without Beijing’s knowledge.
In October, the U.S. imposed sanctions on two Chinese manufacturers of drone engines and components for directly assisting Russia in producing long-range attack drones for the Ukrainian conflict. This marked the first time the U.S. had sanctioned Chinese entities for collaborating with Russian companies in developing and producing complete weapons systems.
The sanctioned entities include Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine Company, producing engines for the Garpiya drones, and Redlepus Vector Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd, collaborating with the Russian defense company TSK Vektor OOO to act as an intermediary between Kupol and the Chinese suppliers for the Garpiya project.
The situation highlights the complexity of international relations and arms trade, especially in a conflict zone like Ukraine, where the involvement of multiple countries raises concerns and necessitates diplomatic actions to maintain stability and peace in the region.